Skellefte River
The Skellefte River (Swedish: Skellefteälven or Skellefte älv; Pite Saami Seldutiedno, Ume Saami Syöldateiednuo) is a river in northern Sweden; one of the major Norrland rivers.
| Skellefte River | |
|---|---|
 Lejonströmsbron in Skellefteå | |
 | |
| Native name | Skellefteälven, Skellefte älv |
| Location | |
| Country | Sweden |
| County | Norrbotten, Västerbotten |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Ikesjaure |
| • location | Arjeplog Municipality, Norrbotten County |
| • coordinates | 66°48′56″N 16°7′6″E |
| Mouth | Gulf of Bothnia |
• location | Skellefteå, Västerbotten County |
• coordinates | 64°42′23″N 21°9′13″E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 410 km (250 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 11,731.0 km2 (4,529.4 sq mi)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 157 m3/s (5,500 cu ft/s)[1] |
Geographically, it starts in the Norrbotten County, also known as the Swedish Lappland province where it drains the lakes Hornavan, Uddjaur and Storavan near Arjeplog; then goes south-east into Västerbotten County, passing through the town Skellefteå (which has given it its name), and finally discharging in the Gulf of Bothnia, in the Västerbotten province.
It is one of the major northern Swedish rivers, with a length of 410 kilometers. Like many large northern rivers, it has been cultivated for water power.
There are several tributaries to the river, with the largest ones named: Malån, Petikån, Finnforsån, Bjurån and Klintforsån.
Salmons and trouts are being put out to compensate for the water power plants, and the river and its tributary are all popular destinations for fishers. Especially popular is the town Skellefteå, known as "Fishing in City".
See also
Some of the other large Norrland rivers:
References
- "Skellefteälven". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 July 2010. (subscription required)
- "Län och huvudavrinningsområden i Sverige" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Retrieved 14 July 2010.